Morning Brief

The US-China trade tensions are showing no signs of abating. And the rivalry between the two major powers are putting pressure on the smaller nations, particularly in Southeast Asia. We will be speaking to Chong Ja Ian, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore on how Malaysia and other nations can leverage on this position amid the contending narratives.

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Malaysia is emerging as a major hub for higher education with the establishment of foreign university branch campuses, many ranked in the top 100 globally. How do these international branch campuses (IBC) impact the academic landscape? We speak to Dr. Sharifah Munirah Alatas, Independent Scholar and Deputy Chair of the Malaysian Academic Movement (GERAK) on the pros and cons of the burgeoning presence of foreign universities in the market.

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Asia is home to around 63% of the world’s commercial laying hens, but the vast majority of them are confined to battery cages. How do different countries stack-up in terms of encouraging cage-free practices and regulating for better welfare conditions in the poultry industry? We get insights from the latest Asia Cage-Free Benchmark report with Jonathon Tree of the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan.

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Asia is home to around 63% of the world’s commercial laying hens, but the vast majority of them are confined to battery cages. How do different countries stack-up in terms of encouraging cage-free practices and regulating for better welfare conditions in the poultry industry? We get insights from the latest Asia Cage-Free Benchmark report with Jonathon Tree of the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan.

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Donald Trump has secured another Republican nomination to be the GOP candidate for president after winning the South Carolina primary. However, the only contender left, Nikki Haley, isn't giving up. John S Jackson, Visiting Professor at Southern Illinois University, analyses if the former South Carolina governor still stands a chance and what a Trump-Biden rematch might look like.

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Russia may have invaded Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022, but the war really started ten years ago in 2014, with the annexation of Crimea. Denys Mykhailiuk, Chargé d'Affaires at the Ukrainian Embassy in Malaysia talks to us about his countrymen's fight to expel Russian troops and take back its territory, as military aid from its western allies begin to hit roadblocks.

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Recently a restaurant chain came under fire for deducting salaries due to medical leave taken or frequent visits to the washrooms during working hours. Sunitha Ruthram, Advocate & Solicitor of Sunitha Ruthram & Co tells us what are the rights of the employees under the Act and what are the remedial actions they can take if those rights are infringed on.

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The government is expected to table a raft of amendments to the constitution on the issue of citizenship, which civil society and human rights observers criticise will exacerbate the issue of statelessness in the country. We speak to Dr. Farah Nini Dusuki, Children's Commissioner of SUHAKAM about the implications of these proposals for vulnerable groups such as foundlings and abandoned children.

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Singapore’s Budget 2024 recently unveiled saw a renewed focus on skills training and income support. What are the some of the measures to emulate here in Malaysia to address the current skill gaps we have. Anthony Raja Devadoss, Country Managing Director at Korn Ferry Malaysia gives us his suggestions.

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Nurses in Malaysia are frequently described as overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. But in countries like Singapore, long-term retention incentive schemes are being introduced for both local and foreign nurses in the public healthcare system. Dr. Timothy Cheng, Vice Chairman, Malaysian Medical Association or SCHOMOS breaks down why this might amplify brain drain, and how to nurse working conditions to better health.

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